Controlling mechanism for self-propelled vehicles.



No. 872,101. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907;

- C. G. & H. R. WORTHINGTON.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES.

AiPLIOATION FILED 8EPT.1Q,1904.

. UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. WORTHINGTON, OF DUNNFIELD, NEW JERSEY, AND ETENRY ROSSITER WORTHINGTON, OF IRVINGTON-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK.

.CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SELF-PROPELLED ViEECLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. WORTH- INGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunnfield, Warren county, New. Jersey, (whose ost-ofliceaddress is the same,) and HENRY OSSITER WORTHINGTON, a citizenof the United States, residin at Irvington-on-Hudson, in the county Westchesapplying the brakes to said members, and the in the ap invention also involves other important advantages of construction, operation and relative position 'of the parts hereinafter fully descnbed and more particularly pointed out pended claims.

Referring to the one sheet of drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of portions of a vehicle supplied with apparatus embodying this inventionand showing clearly the relation of the invention to the said parts; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the lower portion of Fig. 1.

" The foot board or floor of the body of the car is indicated by the numeral 1 and the by those skilled in the art. 1s mounted in the floor of the car body, prefbottom of the housing parts' of the supporting frame of the vehicle are indicated by 2 and 3, these being of the usual ordinary construction well understood A push treadle 4 erably on the inclined portion or foot board thereof, so as to be convenient-of access to the foot of the driver, and this treadle is com prised of a depressible member 5 adapted to slide or telescope into a hollow su port or cu shaped housing 6 which latter is ormed with a marginal flange countersunk into the foot board 1 so that its open end will be substantially flush with the surface thereof, and the extends below the floor, as shown, where it may be utilized for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 10. 1904. Serial Non-223.973.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

the support of certain parts hereinafter referred to. It should be observed at this point that the depressible member '5 sliding snugly within its housin is formed with side walls which move strict y in a direction parallel with the movement of said member and that it is entirely devoid of overhanging parts or apertures, under or into which obstructions, such as rugs and laprobes, might protrude, and thereby interfere with the control of the machine.

The presser rod 7 passes through a central aperture in the bottom of the housing in which it is journaled for sliding movement and is secured to the depressible member 5 by means of its shouldered and ta ered end 7 and a nut therefor contained wit 'u a cavity or depression in the top of said member. The depressible member 5 is preferably, though not necessarily, hollow and a coil spring 8 s contained within the housing surrounding the rod and exerting its pressure in the direction to force the said member upwardly, which movement is limited by an adjustable collar 9 secured to the resser rod and taking against the bottom 0 the housing. When the treadle is to be operated by the toe of the driver, as distinguished from his heel, it is preferable for it to have its top surface inclined downwardly and rearwardly,

as shown, to which surface a suitable wearing plate 5 may be secured covering the nut cavity beneath.

The presser rod 7, journaled as thus described within the treadle housing, is journaled at its lower end in a bushing 10 fast on a convenient part of the frame and extends below the same where it is provided with means for connection to suitable lever and link mechanism for actuating the brakes of the vehicle. Such connecting means consists of a cross-head 11 keyed and bolted to the extremity of the rod 7 and provided with two opposite straight-bottom cross-channels or recesses, indicated by 12, which recesses are engaged by the forked members of the arm of a bell crank lever 14, journaled on a hollow cross shaft 13 attachedto opposite side I members of the frame. Theends of the forked members are rounded as shown, and closely embrace the said cross-headso as to prevent axial rotation thereof and of the presser rod. The other arm 14' of the bell crank is connected by a link or other means to the braking apparatus B, shown diagrammatically in the drawing as a band or strapbrake, although other kinds of brakes may be employed with equal facility. A depression of the presser rod, as by the operation of the treadle 4, will in this manner produce an application of the brakes but other modes than that described of trans,

mission of rod movement to braking appa ratusmay be employed without departing from thisinvention. The depressible rod and push treadle are shown as acting in an proximity to the power transmitting appara- -tus, a connecting means is applied for utilizing the movement of the rod for the actuation of-a device for interrupting the transmission of the motive power to the engine or to the driven members thereof. Such interrupting or controlling device may be em bodied in various different mechanical forms according to the character of the transmission which it controls, and in steam driven vehiclesmay very conveniently be athrottle valve or stop cock C between the boiler and the engine cylinder.

Various mechanical methods of transforming movement of one direction into movement in another direction for operating the device C may be employed, but the method about to be described produces satisfactory results. I It consists of a movable or pivoted part, such as a bell crank 16, connected by a link 15 or otherwise to the crank'arm of the throttle valve and having a cam and pin engagement with the presser rod, the cam and pin being respectively capable of disposition upon either the rod or the bell crank, as desired, and the,camming action of the two parts being so timed as to take place during the first or preliminary traverse of the downward movement of the presser rod. The bell crank 16 is shown as the part provided with the cam and is preferably forked to embrace the presser rod on both sides, as shown,

each forked member being provided respectively with similar cam slots, as 17, engage by cam pins, as 18, carried by the rod. Upon the depression of the rod, the pin or projection 18 rides fifSl? through the comparatively short and inclined portion 17 of the slot, giving to the lever its full and complete throw during the preliminary period of travel of said rod and immediately thereafter the remainder of the slot is brought into parallelism with the rod and the further passage of the pin ,therethrough produces no further movement but retains the lever in its operated position holding the throttle closed. The further traverse of the rod, however, produces an application of the brakes, de-

pendent upon the pressure applied, in obvi-. ous manner. Upon reverse movement of the rod under the influence of the spring, the pin striking into the inclined slot portion 17 returns the bell crank lever to its original position, which is such as brings the throttle valve'or other power interrupting device to a position permitting full supply of power to the driving mechamsm and, of course, the

brakes have also been released during the first period of such return movement. In this manner it is rendered possible for the operator to control, by a single instrument, both the supply of power and the application of the brakes, and by the cam engagement described it is insured that the brakes will be off when the power is on and vice versa. The speed of the vehicle also may be slowed down and regulated without the use of the brake by holding the treadle in intermediate positions while the pin 18 still engages the inclined portion 17 of the cam slot. If desired, suitable detent mechanism may be provided for holding the treadle down and the brakes on when the operators foot has been removed. In constructions of vehicle where the throttle is conveniently near the top of the presser rod, its operating means above referred to is mounted directly upon .the depending housing of the treadle 4, provided with suitable lugs for this purpose, and the cam pins 18 are carried upon the collar 9, heretofore described.

It will be quite obvious that the relative arrangement of the several parts above described will be required to be considerably altered in adapting the invention to vehicles of different internal constructions and that in some instances it may be necessary to interchange the relative position, with respect to the presser rod, of the two motion transmitting means or to substitute for them other equivalent gearing or means for transforming and properly adapting the movementof the rod to'the specified purpose so that during the travelof a single depression of the same, first the disconnection of the power will be effected and then the application of the brakes. All of such modifications and alterations are intended to be included in this specification and in the, following claims:

Havin claim and Letters Patent is 1. Ina controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, the combination of a lon gitudinally depressible operating member, a throttle valve and a brake apparatus, the said valve being permanently connected with said member to be operated by it during its preliminary traverse and the brake apparatus being connected therewith to be oper ated by the member duringits subsequent traverse.

2. In av controlling mechanism for selfdescribed my invention, what I- desire to secure by United States impelled vehicles, a device for interrupting the supply of motive power to a driven member of said vehicle and a braking apparatus, in combination with an upright reciprocable 5 presser rod mounted in journals respectively carried by the frame of the vehicle and the floor of the body and adapted to operate said I device and apparatus, a longitudinally reciprocable push treadle journale'd in the said floor and connected to theend of said rod.

3. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a depressible rod, connecting means associated therewith receiving a complete throw during a preliminary portion of the traverse of said rod, a device for interrupting the supply of motive power to a driven member of the said vehicle operated by said connecting means and a brake apparatus operated by the depression of said rod.

4. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, the combination of a de pressible treadle-member, a throttle valve adapted to be regulated thereby during the preliminary traverse of said treadle member, means for connectingsaid valve and member adapted to hold the valve closed while permitting the further traverse of said member, and a braking apparatus controlled by the treadle member in its said further traverse.

5. In a controlling mechanism for selfimlpelled vehicles, a depressible rod and a bel crank pivoted adjacent ,thereto, a cam surface on one of said parts and a cam pin upon the other, in combination with a device for interrupting the supply of motive power to a driven member of the vehicle operated by said bell crank and braking apparatus operated by the depression of sand rod.

6. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a de ressible rodand a lever having a forked en embracing said rod, a cam and pin engagement between said rod and forked members and a device for interrupting the supply of motive power to a driven member of the said vehicle actuated by said lever.

7.. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a longitudinally reciprocable presser rod, a lever provided with a slotted'arm, a pin on the rod engaging the slot and a power interrupting device actuated by said lever, in combination with braking apparatus brought into action by the depression of said rod.

8. In a controlling mechanismfor selfimpelled vehicles, a longitudinally reciprocable presser rod and means actuated thereby during a preliminary portion of the traverse of said rodfor interrupting the supply of motive power to a driven member of said vehicle, a lever'pivoted to a fixed part havin an arm in operative connection with the said press-er rod and brake apparatus actuated by "said lever. 9. In a. controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a presser rod and a device for interrupting the supplyof motive power to a driven member of the said vehicle, actuated thereby, a transverse shaft mounted in the opposite side members of the frame of the vehicle, a lever journaled on said shaft hilV-r ing operative connection with said rod, and braking apparatus actuated by said lever.

10. In a controlling mechanism forselfimpelled vehicles, a foot treadle comprising a depressible member, a housing therefor having its open end substantially flush with the floor of said 'vehi cle and extending below the same, in combination with a spring contained in said housing and impelling said depressible member upwardly.

11. In a controlling mechanism for self impelled vehicles, a foot treadle consisting of a hollow depressible member and a stationary hollow housing therefor into which said member telescopes, a spring contained within said housing and member tending to elevate the latter, in combination with a rod attached to said depressible member adapted to control the motion of the vehicle.

12. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a foot treadle comprising a depressible member anda housing t erefor disposed in the floor of said vehicle and extending below the same, a lever journaled on the exterior of said housing and actuated by said depressible member. I

13.'In a controlling mechanism'for selfimpelled-vehicles, a foot treadle comprising a hollow depressible member and a housing therefor, a presser rod journaled in said housing and secured to said member, in combination with a spring containedwithin said housing and hollow member.

14. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled .vehicles, a foot treadle comprising a depressible member, a guiding support therefor and a presser rod journaled in said sup ort and attached to said member, in com ination with a spring tending to elevate .110 the member and a collar on the rod taking against said support to limit the upward spring impelled movement thereof.

15. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a presser rod and a depressible treadle member for actuating the same, a depression or cavity in the top of said member within which said rod is attached to the member and a top plate covering said cavity.

. 12'0 16. Ina controlling mechanism for selfvimpelled vehicles, a treadle consisting of fixed and movable telescopic members and a spring holding them in relatively open or separated positions, the top of said movable member being inclined downwardly and rearwardly.

17. In a controlling mechanism for self impelled vehicles, a fixed support for the depressible member of a 'push treadle, a rod journaled in said support and actuated by said'member, a spring elevating said rod and member, and a collar on said rod taking against said support tolimit the play of the rod, in combination with a motion transmitting part also 'journaled on said support and a projection on said'collar to actuate the said part.

18. In a controlling mechanism for selfimpelled vehicles, a reciprocable rod for actuating braking apparatus, a cross-head secured thereto, a lever journaled on a fixed part and engaging with said cross-head to prevent axial rotation of said rod and adapted to be oscillated by a depression of the rod, and brake apparatus operated bysaid lever.

19. In controlling mechanism for selfimpell'ed vehicles, a stationary housing and a sliding push member therein having a top foot surface and its side walls parallel to the direction of its motion and being devoid of projections or apertures likely to be engaged y obstructions to the free operation of said I member.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to the specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES C. WORTHINGTON. HENRY ROSSI'IER. WORTHINGTON. 

